Please vote!

November 2, 2012

You've probably heard it at least once - maybe even enough times that it's become a cliche - but this election is probably the most important in living memory.

That's because we have two very clear choices for President - two candidates whose positions couldn't be further apart - Democratic incumbent Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney. And whatever your political persuasion, you would have to agree that it is absolutely essential to vote in this election.

Besides the Presidential race, we have an election for a new U.S. representative. With Republican Tom Latham running in a different district, we now have Republican Steve King, current 5th District congressman, running for the newly redistricted 4th District seat against Democrat Christie Vilsack, former Iowa First Lady and wife of Tom Vilsack, US secretary of agriculture.

Again, we have a very clear choice in this election. Anyone who has studied these candidates' positions at all knows where they stand.

With the retirement of Democrat Jack Kibbie, we'll also be looking at a new state senator - either Republican Dennis Guth, a Klemme area farmer, or Democrat Bob Jennings, currently serving on the Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees.

We also have a state House race between Republican Tedd Gassman and Democrat John Wittneben, the incumbent from Estherville.

For supervisor, Dave Grussing, current Armstrong city council member, is running along with incumbent candidates Bev Juhl, Alan Madden and Tim Schumacher for three county supervisor seats.

If you're a legal Iowa resident, 18 or above and legally qualified, you can register and vote at the polls even on election day.

Whether you're Republican, Democrat or independent, we urge you to fulfill your civic duty and vote your conscience next Tuesday.